Defenceman James Albert "Bud" MacPherson used his 6'4", 200 lb. frame to thwart the opposition for parts of seven NHL seasons. He provided crisp passes to his forwards but was at his best when running into bodies in the defensive zone.

The Edmonton native learned the game in the city's minor hockey system before toiling briefly in the OHA with the Oshawa Generals. He enjoyed a solid year with the senior Edmonton Flyers in 1947-48 and was a physical force in the playoffs when the squad captured the Allan Cup. MacPherson played three games for the Montreal Canadiens the next season but spent most of his time in Edmonton.

The burly defender was a steady influence on the AHL's Cincinnati Mohawks in 1949-50 then joined the Habs' blueline brigade for five seasons. As a rookie, he helped the club reach the Stanley Cup finals where they were scuttled by Bill Barilko's overtime heroics. Two years later, MacPherson provided sound defensive play for Montreal when the Canadiens knocked off the Boston Bruins to win the Stanley Cup.

By the mid-1950s, the veteran rearguard's playing time was decreased and he ended up spending the entire 1955-56 season with the senior Montreal Royals. MacPherson later competed for the Edmonton Flyers of the WHL and helped the AHL's Hershey Bears win the Calder Cup in 1959. He retired in 1960-61 after playing eleven games for the Flyers.

REGULAR SEASON

PLAYOFFS

Season

Club

League

GP

G

A

TP

PIM

+/-

GP

G

A

TP

PIM

1943-44

Edmonton Maple Leafs

AJHL

1944-45

Edmonton Canadians

EJrHL

1945-46

Edmonton Canadians

EJrHL

1946-47

Oshawa Generals

OHA-Jr.

11

1

0

1

8

2

0

1

1

7

1947-48

Edmonton Flyers

ASHL

37

8

11

19

21

10

0

0

0

41

1947-48

Edmonton Flyers

Al-Cup

14

3

3

6

26

1948-49

Montreal Canadiens

NHL

3

0

0

0

2

1948-49

Edmonton Flyers

WCSHL

44

5

17

22

65

9

0

3

3

10

1949-50

Cincinnati Mohawks

AHL

41

2

9

11

38

1950-51

Montreal Canadiens

NHL

62

0

16

16

40

11

0

2

2

8

1950-51

Cincinnati Mohawks

AHL

6

0

0

0

10

1951-52

Montreal Canadiens

NHL

54

2

1

3

24

11

0

0

0

0

1952-53

Montreal Canadiens

NHL

59

2

3

5

67

4

0

1

1

9

1953-54

Montreal Canadiens

NHL

41

0

5

5

41

3

0

0

0

4

1953-54

Montreal Royals

QHL

5

0

2

2

12

1953-54

Buffalo Bisons

AHL

8

0

1

1

6

1954-55

Montreal Canadiens

NHL

30

1

8

9

55

1955-56

Montreal Royals

QHL

31

2

9

11

63

13

2

1

3

30

1955-56

Montreal Royals

Ed-Cup

6

0

1

1

2

1956-57

Montreal Canadiens

NHL

10

0

0

0

4

1956-57

Montreal Royals

QHL

46

3

10

13

53

4

0

1

1

4

1956-57

Rochester Americans

AHL

7

0

3

3

12

1957-58

Edmonton Flyers

WHL

70

5

22

27

57

5

0

1

1

4

1958-59

Edmonton Flyers

WHL

63

3

13

16

54

3

1

1

2

12

1958-59

Hershey Bears

AHL

10

0

2

2

6

1959-60

Edmonton Flyers

WHL

62

7

12

19

20

4

0

1

1

4

1960-61

Edmonton Flyers

WHL

11

0

1

1

8

NHL Totals

259

5

33

38

233

29

0

3

3

21

Played in NHL All-Star Game (1953)

Traded to Chicago by Montreal with Ken Mosdell for $30,000 with Montreal holding right of recall, May 17, 1956. Returned to Montreal by Chicago after training camp, October 10, 1956. Traded to Detroit by Montreal with Gene Achtymichuk and Claude Laforge for cash, June 3, 1958.